In partnership with PEI Agromart and Island Lime, the PEI Federation of Agriculture is pleased to offer a scholarship of $2,000 for the 2017/18 academic year.
Application deadline is June 1, 2017. Click here for the application form.
Local, Regional, Canadian News
Livestock industry fading on P.E.I.
Potatoes continue to make up about half of farm cash receipts on P.E.I., as the relative value of the livestock industry has been slipping. MORE
Adopting clean practices and technologies for farm sustainability
Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms and livelihoods from one generation of farm family to the next. They also know that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. MORE
New Online Tool to Help Canadian Farmers Manage Risk
Flooding, pests, disease and other extreme weather events are constant risks to the businesses and livelihoods of farmers. The Government of Canada is committed to working with industry partners to explore and develop new risk management tools that meets the needs of Canadian farmers when faced with serious challenges beyond their control. MORE
Stats from 2016 show uptick in net farm income
Statistics show slightly lower costs for fertilizer, fuel and cattle and calf purchases in 2016, against higher crop sales and program payments, led to a rise in realized net farm income last year. MORE
Memories to build on
Although a strong work ethic is always a point of pride in agriculture, the farm family also needs to celebrate its successes and to understand why you do all that hard work in the first place. MORE
Renegotiating NAFTA Leaves Room for Optimism
The Vice President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute suggests, as the renegotiation of NAFTA gets underway, a key message to the United States must be that Canada is a fair trading partner and a strong ally MORE
PEI Potato Board staff met with Shawn Schofield of the Agri-Environmental Unit
This meeting was to review what his staff saw in 2016 in responding to complaints, doing educational visits to farms, etc.
In an overall sense, most potato farms were doing things properly, particularly in the potato year.
After this meeting we would like to help raise awareness of two items in particular:
- 15 M buffer zones are required along PEI watercourses for ALL CROPS including grain and soybeans – not only row crops such as potatoes.
The Agri-Environmental Unit is happy to help growers review their fields and stake out areas for buffer zones.
- Burn permits are required when burning brush on your property. Permits are good for the season and are available free of charge. A permit and a quick call to your local fire department when you plan to burn will avoid unnecessary responses from local fire departments.
Burning garbage (particularly shingles, plastic and tires) is not permitted.
Shawn Schofield can be reached at: 902-393-5285.
PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative
Following is a link to our new podcast: http://organicpei.com/podcast/
Environmental Farm Plan Renewals
The Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program sent out renewal letters in early 2017 to notify producers that their environmental farms plans would be expiring at the end of the year. If you are a producer who has not yet contacted the office to have your plan updated please call Matt or JoAnn at 902-368-7289.
EFP’s are valid for 5 years and we encourage all farmers to participate in the program. Participation in the program also allows you to apply for funding through the Growing Forward 2 Agriculture Stewardship Program, Farmland Finance Program and the Future Farmer Program. For your convenience the EFP can be completed at your farm or at the PEI Federation of Agricultural office and takes approximately 1.5 hrs to complete. EFP’s are no cost to the producer.
If you feel your EFP may be expired and you have not yet been contacted please call the office and we will check the status of your last plan. Further information on the Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program can be found on the PEI Federation of Agriculture webpage www.peifa.ca/efp/
Livestock
Prices remain firm as buyers seek grass cattle
Prices for cattle at Manitoba auction yards stayed relatively firm amid declining volumes. Around 4,600 animals made their way through the rings during the week ended May 19, down from 7,500 the week before. MORE
Funds, bargain buying rally live cattle
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Thursday reversed some of their recent losses, stirred by fund buying and bargain hunting as the U.S. Memorial Day holiday approaches, said traders. MORE
Call for Congress to Address ‘Sue and Settle’ Abuse
If family ranching operations and rural economies are going to survive another generation, Congress must address the problem of so-called “sue and settle” abuse. That’s the message that Darcy Helmick, Land Manager for Simplot Land & Livestock, stressed to Congress in subcommittee testimony earlier this week. MORE
Beef + Lamb NZ Welcomes Budget Biosecurity Investment
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), on behalf of sheep and beef farmers, has welcomed the Government’s additional investment in biosecurity, announced in the Budget yesterday. MORE
NPPC White Paper Details Benefits of NAFTA
Following last week’s notification by the Trump administration that it will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the National Pork Producers Council yesterday released a white paper on the benefits of the trade deal among the United States, Canada and Mexico. MORE
Melaka Pig Farmers Get 1-Year Grace Period to Modernise Farming Method
Pig farmers in Paya Mengkuang have been given one year to switch from conventional to modern farming or face the risk of shutdown. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 25 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, May 25 HERE
Potatoes
Losing Ground
The potato industry may be losing a mainstay in the battle against psyllids, according to a recent Texas A&M AgriLife Research study. MORE
Documentary on Washington’s Potato History to Air
Today, Washington State is home to some of the finest potato country in the world, thanks to a foundation built by committed forerunners. MORE
Sustainability is Key for the Success of Potato Processors
Major potato processors in Europe are committed to sustainable practices and investments are being made in new techniques to benefit crops. One such example, presented as a case study during this week’s European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA) Conference in Brussels is that of Lamb Weston/Meijer. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola weakens with soy, weather forecasts
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts ended weaker on Thursday, following losses in the US soy complex and some technical trading. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Soybeans fall on oil drop
U.S. soybean futures fell to a 1-1/2-month low on Thursday, pressured by a sharp drop in crude oil prices, traders said. MORE
Deliveries of major grains, April 2017 HERE
AM markets: soy futures hit 13-month low, amid China worries HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
JBS shares soar as speculation mounts over crisis fallout
Shares in JBS SA , the world’s largest meatpacker, spiked on Thursday as speculation mounted over its strategy for weathering the fallout from a corruption scandal centered on its owners. MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action May 23 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – May 24 HERE
FCC Express – May 19 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 19 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, May 25 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative has been approved for a 2 year period. Applications will be accepted starting April 26, 2017.
The program is designed to hire youth aged 15 to 30 for internships of up to 12 months. It will be of interest to producers and organizations working in the agriculture industry and interested in implementing agriculture projects that are environmentally beneficial.
Producers operating a farm or ranch can hire a young person to implement an environmentally beneficial project in their operation.
Agricultural organizations, such as watershed groups and companies providing environmentally beneficial services can access the program to support an environmentally beneficial project their organization is implementing. Research organizations can receive funding to support their agricultural research that benefits the environment.
For an application form and more details on the program, please visit: Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
